<HTML>
<HEAD>
<link rel=stylesheet href=../style1.css type=text/css>
<TITLE>Armed Islamic Group (GIA)</TITLE>
<META NAME ="description" VALUE="">
<META NAME="keywords"  VALUE="Armed Islamic Group, terrorism, terrorists">
<META NAME="resource-type" VALUE="document">
<META NAME="distribution" VALUE="global">
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff">
<CENTER>
<TABLE bgColor=#eeeeee border=1 cellspacing=0 width="100%">
  <TBODY>
  <TR>
<td bgcolor=#ffffff width=14%>
<center><a href="../Welcome.html"><img src="../gifs/MdTealELogoNoTextOnWhite.jpg" border=0 alt="Dudley Knox Library"></a></center>
</td>
    <TD colspan=5 color=#eeeeee>
      <P align=center>
<FONT size=+2>
<b>Terrorist Group Profiles</b></font><br>
<P align=center>
<b><font size=-1>Dudley Knox Library</b><br>
Naval Postgraduate School</font><br>
</P></TD>
<td bgcolor=#ffffff width=14%>
<center><a href="http://www.nps.navy.mil/"><img src="../gifs/npscrestsmall.gif" border=0 alt="Naval Postgraduate School"></a></center></td>
</TR>
<tr align=center valign="top">
<td nowrap bgcolor=#eeeeee width=15%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="tgp2.htm"><b>TGP Home</b></a></font>
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#ffffff width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/webcat"><b>BOSUN</b></a></font>
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#eeeeee width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="../databases.htm"><b>Databases</b></a></font>
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#ffffff width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="../ejournals.html"><b>Ejournals</b></a></font>
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#eeeeee width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="../ill.html"><b>Interlibrary Loan</b></a></font>
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#ffffff width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="../resources.html"><b>Resources</b></a></font> 
</td>
<td nowrap bgcolor=#eeeeee width=14%>
<font size=-1><a class="noun" href="../netsearch.htm"><b>Web Tools</b></a></font></td>
</tr>
</TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<p align=center><a href="../terrorism.htm">Terrorism Resources</a>
<hr>
<p>
<H2>Armed Islamic Group (GIA)</H2>
<B>From:</B><I> Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2001</I>. United States Department of State, May 2002.<BR>
<center><font size=-1>Comments on the content of the material should be sent to the <a href="http://contact-us.state.gov">U.S. Department of State</a></font></center>
<HR>

<P><B>Description</B><BR>
An Islamic extremist group, the GIA aims to 
        overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic 
        state. The GIA began its violent activities in early 1992 after Algiers 
        voided the victory of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS)--the largest 
        Islamic party--in the first round of legislative elections in December 
        1991. 
<P><B>Activities</B><BR>
Frequent attacks against civilians, journalists, and foreign residents. In the last several years the GIA has conducted a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres, sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operations and frequently killing hundreds of civilians. Since announcing its terrorist campaign against foreigners living in Algeria in September 1993, the GIA has killed more than 100 expatriate men and women--mostly Europeans--in the country. Uses assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to favor kidnapping victims and slitting their throats. The GIA hijacked an Air France flight to Algiers in December 1994. In late 1999 several GIA members were convicted by a French court for conducting a series of bombings in France in 1995.
<P><B>Strength</B><BR>
Precise numbers unknown; probably around 200
<P><B>Location/Area of Operation</B><BR>
Algeria. 

<P><B>External Aid</B><BR>
Algerian expatriates and GSPC members abroad, many of whom reside in Western Europe, provide financial and logistic support. In addition, the Algerian Government has accused Iran and Sudan of supporting Algerian extremists.

 <P>

<hr>
<font size=-1><A HREF="http://www.nps.navy.mil/inps/11Disclaimer.htm">Disclaimer</A>
<I>Page last updated: 12/13/2002</I><BR>
Page maintained by the <A HREF="mailto:dkl_web@nps.navy.mil">DKL Web Committee.</A>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nps.navy.mil/NonDoDLink.htm">External Links </a>
</font></body>
</html>